Zoning

Google street view of modernist tan-colored triangular church building with tall skinny palm trees in front with green lawn in St. Petersburg, Florida.

St. Pete Allows Housing on Church Land, a Florida First

Religious institutions can now build housing on their properties without rezoning.

December 16, 2025 - St. Pete Rising

Large building for Microsoft data center under construction with cranes and heavy equipment in flat treeless field in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin.

Madison Advances Data Center Moratorium

The mayor and city leaders could pause new zoning certificates for data centers for a year while it codifies them into its zoning regulations.

December 15, 2025 - Isthmus

Tan brick two-story historic house next to four-story modern apartments with balconies on small street with tall trees in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville Allows More Detached ADUs, Courtyard Apartments

The city has been considering a series of zoning reform bills designed to diversify housing options.

December 15, 2025 - WPLN News

View of residential neighborhood with large trees and mountains in background in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salt Lake City Slashes Lot Size, Parking Requirements for Middle Housing Zones

A new ordinance alters regulations for middle housing zones, removing barriers that made multifamily development impractical or too expensive.

December 12, 2025 - Building Salt Lake

Graphic of cityscape seen both on bottom and reflected on top of image.

Land Use: Chasing Utopia, 2025?

History has taught us the risks of undervaluing the power of planning decisions. Overvaluing them might be just as dangerous.

December 11, 2025 - Charles R. Wolfe

Aerial view of coastal homes in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.

California Group Threatens to Sue Governor Over Post-fire Duplex Ban

A July executive order prohibits property owners from building multiple units in areas affected by the January Los Angeles wildfires.

December 10, 2025 - Politico

Mid-rise vintage SRO brick hotel building with ground floor retail and "Hotel Hamlin" painted sign on side in Tenderloin district, San Francisco.

First-of-its-kind ‘ROOM Act’ Would Slash Restrictions on SROs, Co-living

The Institute for Justice developed model legislation that would reduce or eliminate zoning and building code barriers to low-cost, small and shared housing units.

December 9, 2025 - Institute for Justice

East Wing of White House with demolition equipment and visible American flag.

Trump Says White House Ballroom Exempt from Permitting, Zoning Rules

The President reportedly told teams working on the ballroom that the project doesn’t have to comply with regulations.

December 7, 2025 - The Independent

Aerial view of central New Ulm, Minnesota, small German-inspired town with brick buildings.

Instead of Restricting Development, One Minnesota City Just Approved Flurry of ‘Experimental’ Housing Types

New Ulm leaders are approving multiple projects including tiny homes, apartments, and ‘shed homes’ using Planned Unit Developments to move projects forward faster.

December 2, 2025 - The Minnesota Star Tribune

Two-story brick houses in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus Introduces New Rules Allowing ADUs in all Residential Districts

The city’s recent zoning code updates include new rules for secondary housing units.

November 27, 2025 - ABC 6

Baltimore Residents Skeptical of Zoning Reform Efforts

The city is changing zoning codes to proote more multifamily housing development.

November 23, 2025 - The Baltimore Banner

Red 'Long Island' text on blue steel bridge/gates over river.

Upzoning Could Bring 15K New Homes to Queens

A rezoning plan for Long Island City opens up prime waterfront land for residential development, but some critics say new housing could be prone to flooding and should be built farther inland.

November 16, 2025 - City Limits

Mayor Brandon M. Scott of Baltimore wearing blue checkered suit signing a bill with three men in suits standing behind him at podium.

Baltimore Seeks to Stem Population Loss by Eliminating Parking Requirements, Legalizing Single-Stair Buildings

A package of zoning reforms is aimed at making it easier to build and redevelop housing to draw people back to the city, which has been losing population steadily.

November 6, 2025 - The Baltimore Banner

Adults watching over children playing on urban playground in Chinatown, San Francisco with high-rises in background.

Report Shows San Francisco’s ‘Family Zoning’ Plan Would Produce Less Than Half of Needed Housing Units

The city’s economic analysis reveals that a rezoning proposal would yield from 8,504 to 14,646 units, well below the number required by the state.

November 2, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of Brunswick, Maine with colorful sunset clouds.

Maine Forces Cities to Allow at Least 2 ADUs on Residential Lots

A new state law bars local jurisdictions from restricting ADUs in residential areas.

November 2, 2025 - News Center Maine

Walkable red brick street with restaurant patios and small shops in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Charlottesville Settles the Legal Dispute That has Left it Without a Zoning Code Since June

The city plans to fund two impact studies to settle the suit and move forward with enacting its 2023 zoning plan update.

October 30, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Buildings in downtown Boston with large red construction crane.

Boston Approves 700 ft Tall Buildings Downtown

A new rezoning plan raises height limits in some areas for buildings that are mostly residential.

October 26, 2025 - WBUR

Colorfull light yellow and blue apartment building with tall palm trees in front in Florida.

Interactive Map Shows Where Florida Housing Shortage is Most Severe

A new tool highlights the uneven nature of the state’s housing crisis.

October 14, 2025 - Florida Housing Data Project

An African American gentlemen walking by the front sidewalk of suburban townhouse with cherry blossom. Colorful red siding duplex with blooming pink flower.

Seattle’s Zoning Reform Could Unlock a ‘Multiplex Boom’

A package of stackable density bonuses could make it easier for developers to build 12-plexes.

October 6, 2025 - The Urbanist

Sign for HOV lane for carpools 2+ on California freeway.

September Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

EV drivers can no longer use carpool lanes alone, Bay Area transit is saved — for now — by a $750 million loan, and a Florida commuter rail line loses its state subsidy, jeopardizing its future.

October 6, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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